Plumbing-testing appliance.



H. F. SHADE..

PLUMBING TESTING APPLIANGE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 26, 1913.

Patented Feb. '24, 1914.

Annannndnnanl 444444 wue/wtoo F. Shade Q3 d Herbert @5w-a HERBERT F. SHADE, OF VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

PLUMBING-TESTING APPLIANCE.

rosaase.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24C, 1914.

Application filed March 26, 1913. Serial No. 756,934.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I7 HERBERT F. SHADE, a citizen of Canada, residing at Victoria, in the Province of British Columbia and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Plumbing-Testing Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

rlhe invention relates to an appliance for use in connection with the testing of joints in plumbers construction, comprehending specifically a convenient means for concealing the pipe in the joints to permit the proper testing of the joint for the introduction of' water or the like in the pipe.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a testing appliance embodying a flexible rod like member by which the appliance may be introduced into the pipe and readily follow the curves or angles therein and an inflatable element carried by the pipe adapted when the operative end of the pipe has been moved to a point beyond the joint to be inflated to seal the pipe against the passage of water beyond the joint.

The invention in its preferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the improved implement. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are views in elevation partly in section illustrating the use of the implement.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, the improved testing implement comprises a flexible rod like member l which may be of any desired type or formation. The rod in the present instance is shown as made up of a convolute winding of the spring metal strip, and while such is admirably adapted to form the operating rod of the improved appliance. it is to be understood that I intend no limitation by such illustration and contemplate the use of any desired type of flexible rod. as the sole requirements for the purpose of the present invention are that the handle rod be more or less flexible. The operative end of the rod l is preferably expanded in diameter as at 2 to receive what I term an approximately vertical guiding member 3 the latter if desired being so secured to the handle rod as to permit its convenient removal when desired, while preventing possibility of its disconnection in use. guiding member 3 which as before stated is approximately spherical is of hollow formation, that is, provided with an interior bore or opening 4 extending through the member in alinement with the bore of the handle rod, the bore lA of the guiding member being preferably slightly wedge shape toward the handle rod, that is the opening has its maximum diameter at the free end of the guiding member. The outer surface of the guiding' member immediately beyond the edge of the opening el is provided with a series of loosely placed balls 5, preferably arranged in annular rou and secured in place in any desired manner, that is the balls forming an adaptably bearing joint for the guide member in its movement longitudinally of the pipe as hereinafter explained. Secured upon the opposite end of the handle rod l is a hollow handle casing 6, which casing is preferably connected to the handle rod for ready and convenient disconnection therefrom, as by a threaded connection or the like.

Slidably mounted in the handle rod, in the specific type of device shown is a tube 7, said tube having a greater length than the handle rod and provided at the end adjacent the guide member 3 with an annular collar S, an inatablc bag 9 of elastic material being secured to the inner terminal of the tube 7 to establish communication between the interior of the member 9, hereinafter termed the sealing` member, and the tube.

When the appliance is ready for introduction into the pipe to be tested the inflatable member 9 is housed wholly within the guide member 3, as shown in Fig. 2, and in this position of the parts the excess length of the tube is housed within the hollow handle member G. That end of the tube within the handle member is formed with a nipple 10 or other connection to provide for the attachment of an ordinary pump or pressure device ll, the pipe connection intermediate the pressure device ll and the tube 7 being preferably provided with a valve l2 adapted in one position to establish communication between the tube 7 and the atmosphere.

Assuming the device to be used in connection with a pipe 13 having a joint ll to be l tested, the appliance is introduced into the pipe, and by reason of the flexibility of the The handle rod 1 will follow the curves and bends of the pipe, the balls 5 acting as a movable bearing to avoid friction between the guide member 3 and the pipe wall and at the same time assist in operating the guide member. Then the guide member is positioned below the joint 14, which can be readily determined by measurement or the like, the handle member 6 is disconnected from the handle rod 1 and the tube 7 move longitudinally a distance to project the sealing member 9 beyond the end of the guide member. The tube 7 is within engaging with the pressure device 12 and the sealing member inflated until the pipe 13 beyond the joint is sealed. later may be then poured or forced into the pip-e 14 to thoroughly and eectively test the joint. After such test the valve 12 is operated to deflect the member 9 and the same is drawn within the guide member and the appliance is wholly withdrawn from the pipe.

The improved testing appliance is of course to be constructed in various sizes and lengths so that practically any joint within reach, or those known as exposed joints, can be readily and conveniently tested, the various sizes of the appliance providing for its use with devices of various sizes.

The gist of the present invention resides in the provision of a flexible handle member carrying an inflatable sealing member so that the latter may be introduced into the pipe and the determinate point and subsequently inflated to seal the pipe at that point, and the use of the appliance eliminates the usual smoke or peppermint test,

which tests are not only objectionable in that they are not infallible, but require the filling of the entire plumbing system with the smoke or peppermint laden air for the testing of a single joint. By the improved appliance the particular joint being tested is the only one with which the plumber` need conc-ern himself, as the joint is ordinarily sealed against water leakage test of such joint is made directly to determine the possibility of water leakage.

-What is claimed is 1. A testing appliance including a flexible rod like handle member, a guide member carried by one end thereof, an inflatable sealing member normally housed within the guide member, a tube in Communication with the sealing member and housed within the handle member, and a ball bearing guide carried by and projecting beyond the outer surface of the guide member.

2. A testing appliance including a iieXible rod like handle member, a guide member carried by one end thereof, an inflatable sealing member normally housed within the guide member, a tube in communication with the sealing member and housed within the handle member, a hollow member carried by one end of the handle member and serving to house the end of the tube therein.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT F. SHADE.

witnesses H. Gr. E. Pocooii, H. G. ALLAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

